Transporter



jung 4, 1929. w. E. MaCKENZIE I TRANSPORTER Filed June 2, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet June 1929- w. M KENZIE TRANSPORTER g Sheets-Sheet 2 4 FiledJune 2, 1926 June 4, 1929.

w. E. M KENZIE 1.716.234

TRANSPORTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1926 June 4, 19 9- w. E. M OKENZ IE TRANSPORTER Filed June 2. 1926 4 SheetsSheet 4 Patented June 4,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FicE.

WILLIAM EWAN' MACKENZIE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TRANSPORTER.

Application filed June 2, 1926, Serial No. 113,205, and in Great BritainNovember 16, 1925.

This invention'of improvements in transporters has relation totransporters of the kind in which carriers are mounted on an overheadrunway on which they always move in the same direction, the carriersbeing loaded at one point and discharged'at another point from whichthey return to The invention also has for object to provide improvementsin transporters as referred to in the preceding paragraphs by which theloads are suspended from the carriers through hoisting and lowering gearand the hoisting and lowering gear is operated automatically when leavinand approaching the loading and unloading points.

The invention further has for object to provide improvements intransporters as r eferred to in the preceding paragraphs by which thehoisting and lowering gear of a carrier is connected with and operatedby a preceding or a following carrier or by a preceding and followingcarrier.

The invention further has for. object to provide improvements intransporters as referred to in the preceding paragraphs by which thehoisting and lowering gearis operated by the difference in the rate ofmove ment of the carrier from which the load is suspended and apreceding or following carrier or a preceding and following carrler.

In order that the invention, the objects of which have been set forth,maybe clearly and readily understood, reference will now be made to theembodiment illustrated on the accompanying drawings, on which Fig. 1 isa side view;

Figp2an end View; and

Fig. 3 a plan view of a transporter, the runway being mounted onstandards or gantries in relation to which it is adjustable in avertical plane and the standards or gantries being mounted on wheelsrunning on rails so that the transporter is adjustable as to posltion.

. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end of aru'n- Fig. 5 a diagrammatic viewof an end member of the runway with the transferrer shown in threepositions;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the. line IVIV of Fig. 1; and y Fig. 7 isa cross section on the line VIVI of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation;

Fig. 9 an end elevation; and

Fig. 10 a plan view of a carrier.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the bolster of a carrier showing thecarriage mounted thereon.

. Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive are diagrammatic representations of a portionof a runway with carriers mounted thereon and provided with severalarrangements. of hoisting gear.

Referring to.Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

1'1, 11 are standards or gantriesmounted on wheeled platforms or trucks12 andrun:

ning on rails 13. The standards or gantries' 11 11 carry the runwaywhich consists of 7 an endless path constituted of a pair of trussed orother girders or beams 14 placed parallel to one another and united attheir. ends by curved or semicircular members 15,

also of trussed or girder like construction.

The girders or beams 14 and the end members 15. are connected and bracedso as to. constitute a unitary structure. Therunway 14, 15 is mounted inthe standards or gan tries 11, 11 so as to be adjustable in relationthereto in a vertical plane and as the stand ards or gantries 11 aremovable along the rails '13 the runway 1 1, 15 is movable also" in ahorizontal plane. The position or height orpositions and heights of thepoint.

or points at which loading or unloading or loading and unloading can beeffected is or are varied by adjustment of the runway '14, 15 in ahorizontal plane or in a vertical plane or in both horizontal andvertical planes. The mounting in the standards or gantries of the runway14:, 15 and the means for effecting its vertical adjustment in relationthereto are not illustrated,as they form no part of the. presentinvention.

Referring now to Figs. %1 to 7 inclusivel The runway 14,15 is providedwith rails 16 on which the carriers hereafter described with referenceto Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, run. The rails 16 form integers in theconstruc tion of the runway and are at the lower part thereof. Therunway 14, 15 is of such design and construction that the carriers runon the rails 16 within the girders or beams and there is free andunobstructed passage for the ropes, chains or the like by which theloads are suspended from the carriers and are raised and lowered.

17, 17 are worms or screws. Each is mounted within, and extends the fulllength of, a member 14 of the runway. Each worm or screw 17 is in onelength or in a plurality of lengths and when in several lengths, theunits are joined together by'flexible couplings of any suitable andconvenient construction. The threads of the worms or screws 17 are ofrectangular or other section and are wound around and secured to stocksor cores, which are preferably tubular. The worms or screws 17 aremounted in bearings (not shown) disposed so that the worms or screws 17areabove the rails 16 and each Worm or screw occupies a position that isnearer the inner of the rails 16. he worms or screws 17 are driven by anelectric motor 18 mounted on members attached to the girders or beams14. The shaft 19 of the motor '18 is geared by spur gearing 20 to ashaft 21 which, in-tur'n, is geared by spur gearing 22 to a shaft 23.The shaft 23 is geared to the worms or screws 17 by spur gearing 24 suchthat the two worms or screws 17 rotate in opposite directions. The pitchof the worms or screws 17 is not uniform throughout the whole of theirlengths, but is varied at one or more places. The

V worms or screws 17 are employed to drive the carriers hereafterdescribed and the arrangement is such that when the carriers are inengagement with the parts of the thread that are of varying pitch theyare propelled at an increasing or decreasing rate conipared with that atwhich they are driven when in engagement with parts of the thread ofuniform pitch.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive. A carrier comprises a bolster27 carried by two'bogies 25,26 mounted on flangeless wheels 28maintained on the rails 16 by three wheels 29, 29, 30 turningon'vertical axes. The'axes of the wheels 29, 29, 30 are car riedby thebogies 25, 26 and the wheels are so arranged that the wheels 29 bear onthe inner side of the outer rail of the rails 16 and the wheel 30 on theouter side of the same rail. The bolster 27 consist-s of a frame (Fig.11) having at each end an extension 31 by which the pivotal'conneetionof the bogies 25,26 with the bolster 27 is effected, and on its upperface and at one side or edge thereof two upwardly extending and parallelmembers 32. These members 32 are connected together by rods 33- on whicha carriage 34 is mounted and movable. Interposed between the carriage 34and members 32 and disposed between the rods 33 are springs 35 which actto maintain the carriage 34 centrally between the members 32 and to actas bufiing springs to take up or absorb any shocks to which it may besul ject. Mounted on one side of the carriage 34 are two rollers 36, 37which are disposed in the same vertical plane but are not in the samehorizontal plane. The rollers 36, 37 are further such that one engagesor bears against the under side of the thread of the worm or screw 17and the other against the opposite side. 38 is a third roller mounted onthe carriage 34: it is mounted on the under side. of the carriage 34 andturns about a vertica'laxis. 1

39 are pulleys mounted on a horizontal axis on the lower part of thebolster 27. These pulleys 39 form part of a block and tackle of which 40is the third pulley, 41 the hook and 42 the rope. In the arrangement nowbeing described the rope 42 passes over the pulleys 39 and isled forwardand aft, the one end of the rope being anchored to the bolster of thepreceding carrier and the other end to the bolster of the followingcarrier as more clearly shown in Fig. 12. 43 are guide pulleys mountedon the bolster 27 and 44 are anchors on' the bolster for the ropes ofblocks and tackle on the preceding and following carriers.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive.

Fig. 12 shows a worm or screw 1.7 of varying pitch at the centralportion of its length and of uniform pitch for the remainder of itslength. Meshing with the worm or screw 17 are five carriers. It will beunderstood that when the worm or screw is driven, the carriers are setin motion and that as each carrier approaches and leaves the centralportion of the Worm or screw its rate of progression is first decreasedand then increased. In other words, the carriers tend to crowd togetherat the central portion of the worm or screw and then to separate. As onecarrier approaches another the hoisting and lowering gear is operatedand the hook 41 is lowered to permit a load to be attached or detached.As the carriers move apart; the hoisting and lowering gearisoperated'and the hook 41 is raised.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 other arrangements of block and'tackleto thatshown in Fig. 12 are illustrated.

The description so far has described the arrangement of parts so far asthey relate to the members 14 of the runway and the movement of thecarriers on such parts of the runway. To enable the'carriers to betransferred from one part 14 of the runway to the other part 14 thereof,the two parts 14 are united at their ends by .the curved .orsemi-circular members 15 and the meansby which the carriers arepropelled along these members will now be described.

- between the members 14:. The spindle 44:

at its upper end carries a worm wheel 45 which meshes with a worm 46 onthe shaft 23. The arm 43 is consequently driven from and by the motor18. The arm 13 is slotted longitudinally from each end. Z (Fig. 5) isthe centre of the member 15. The spindle 4 1 is mountedand arranged sothat it is not coaxial with the centre Z. lVhen a carrier approaches theend of the worm or screw 17 its roller 38 enters the longitudinal slotin the arm 13 which is then at position Y, and the carrier is propelledaround the curve first at a gradually decreasing rate of progressionandJthen at a gradually increasing rate. This variation in the rate ofprogression is due to the alteration in the position at which the roller38 contacts with the arm 43. The arrangement therefore permits thehoisting and lowering gear to be worked at the ends of the transporter.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A transporter comprising an endless runway, aplurality of carriers mounted thereon, means for driving the carriersalong the runway so that they are maintained in continuous movement andare caused to travel faster between the points at which they are loadedand unloaded and hoisting gear carried by each carrier; operativelyconnected with and adapted to be actuated by another carrier throughdifference in the rates of progression'of the carriers.

2. A transporter comprising an endless runway, a plurality of carriersmoulnted thereon, a worm mounted on the runway meshing with the carriersto drive them along the runway continuously and hoisting gear carried byeach carrier operatively connected with and adapted to be actuated byanother carrier. 7

3. A transporter comprising an endless runway, a plurality of carriersmounted thereon, a worm mounted on the runway meshing with the carriersto drive them along the runway continuously and having portions ofvariable pitch so that the carriers have different rates of progressionand hoisting gear carried by each carrier, the hoisting gear of eachcarrier operatively connected with and adapted to be actuated by anothercarrier through differences in the rates of progression of the carriers.

4. A transporter comprisin an endless runway, a plurality of carriersmounted thereon,. means for driving the carriers along the runway sothat they are maintained in continuous movement and are caused to travelfaster between the points at which they are loaded and unloaded, andhoisting gear carried by each carrier connected with a preceding andfollowing carrier and adapted to be actuated by differences in the ratesof progression.

5. A transporter comprising a runway consisting of two straight portionsunited at their ends by curved port-ions, a plurality of carriersmountedthereon, means for drivmg the carriers along the runway so that they aremaintained in continuous movement and are caused to travel fasterbetween the points at which they are loaded and unloaded and hoistinggear carried by each carrier 1 operatively connected with and adapted tobe actuated "by another carrier through differences in the rates ofprogression of the carriers.

6. A transporter comprising a runway consisting of two straight portionsunited at their ends by curved portions,a plurality of carriers mountedthereon, worms mounted in the straight portions of the runway andmeshing with and driving the carriers, and means to propel the carriersround the curved portions of the runway at varying rates of progression.

7. A transporter comprising a runway consisting of two straight portionsunited at their ends by curved portions, a plurality of carriers mountedthereon, worms having portions of variable pitch ineshingwith anddriving the carriers along the straight portions of the runway atdifferent rates of progression, an arm mounted to rotate in a horizontalplane at each of the curved portions of the runway, means on the armsand carriers to interengage so that the carriers are driven around thecurved portions by the arms, and hoisting gear carried by each carrieroperatively connected with and actuated by another carrier throughdifferences in the rates of progression of the carriers.

8. A transporter comprising a runway consisting of two straight portionsunited at their ends by curved portions, a plurality of carriers mountedthereon, worms meshing with and driving the. carriers along the straightportions of the'runway, an arm mounted to rotate in a. horizontal planeat each of the curved portions of the runway and mounted out of centre,and interengaging means on the arms andcarriers.

9. A transporter comprising an endless runway consisting of two straightportions united at theirends by curved portions, a plurality of carriersmounted thereon, means for driving the carriers along the straightportions of the runway, and means to propel the carriers around thecurved portions of the runway at varying rates of progression.

10. A transporter comprising an endless runway consisting of twostraight pprtions united at their ends by curved portions, a pluralityof carriers mounted on the runway, means for driving the carriers alongthe straight portions of the runway in continuous movement and forcausing the carriers to travel faster between the points at which theyare loaded and unloaded, hoisting gear carried by each carrier andactuated by another carrier through difi'crences in the rates ofprogression of the carriers, and means for propelling the carriersaround the curved portions of the runway at varying rates ofprogression, whereby the hoisting gear of the carriers are actuated atsuch curved portions of the runway.

11. A transporter comprising a runway, a plurality of carriers thereon,means for driving said carriers along the runway and for decreasing therate of progression of the carriers as they pass points of loading andunloading, and hoisting gear carried by each carrier and operativelycoupled with another carrier for actuation as each carrier passes apoint of loading and unloading and its rate of progression is decreased,by the carrier with which coupled traveling at a greater rate ofprogression.

12. A transporter comprising a runway consisting of straight portionsunited at their ends by a curved portion, a plurality of carriersmounted thereon, means for driv-,

ing the carriers along the straight. portions, an arm mounted to rotatein a horizontal plane at the curved portion of the runway, said armlongitudinally slotted and mounted for rotation on an axis ofi centerwith respcctto the axis of the curve, and means on the carriers forengagement in said slotted arm whereby each carrier is propelled aroundthe curved portion of the runway at varying rates of progression.

13. In a transporter including a runway having a curved, portion, acarrier on said runway, and means for propelling said carrier around thecurved portion of the runway, comprising an arm mounted for rotation ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of the curved portion of therunway around an axis oli center with respect to the center of curvatureof the curved portion, and means on the carrier for engagement by saidarm whereby the carrier is propelled around the curved portion of therunway at' different rates of progression Dated this twenty second dayof May, 1926.

WILLIAM EWVAN MAoKENZIE.

